Flowerbug's Inkspot

Sale a Bration options

Deadline Alert!   There are only 3 days left of Sale a Bration! 

If you want to get free product from our Sale a Bration catalog, order by Saturday, March 31st!  Any product from the Idea Book & Catalog or the Occasions mini catalog qualifies.  Once you spend $50 you get a free choice, $100 gets 2 free choices and $150 gets you three plus a free gift and $25 in free merchandise.  Click here to order.

Scroll down to see a few cards made with Sale a Bration products.  

*****Now is the time to get those items on your wish list!!!

They just announced that there are even more options for those placing an order over $150.  Besides the usual hostess gifts you get with a qualifying order everyone received one of these pretty shopping bags.

Now they are running low on these bags so they are offering everyone a choice of items.  Check out this pdf file showing you the options you can choose from.

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Just 3 days left!  Above is everything you get when you purchase the standard Starter Kit.  One of my friends just reminded me of what an amazing value our demonstrator Starter kit is.  And the Digital Starter kit is also a fantastic deal.  Both options have just about everything you need to get start stamping, digital crafting or to run an SU business for just $125 (regularly $175).  Click here to read more about it. 

An eye catching card using the Outlined Occasions Sale a Bration (SAB) stamp set along with the SAB Everyday Enchantment designer paper punched with our Pennant punch.

Riding Hood Red with Black & the Fresh Vintage SAB stamp set used as a background.

The Outlined Occasions SAB stamp set used with our Cupcake Builder punch and the Sale a Bration free Everyday Enchantment designer series paper.  

Punch Art Easter Bunnies!

I just had to get one more punch art in for Easter. 

Aren't they adorable?!! 

I saw one like it on our Demonstrator website, Stampin' Connection made by Judy Lynn, and knew you would want to see how it's done.  Then once I made one, I had to create a smaller version.  The supplies include quite a few punches of course!

Large Bunny:

• face - largest smooth Heart Framelit
• cheeks - 1 3/4" circle punch
• tongue - 1/2" circle
• nose - 1" circle
• eyes - 3/4" circle
• ears - Blossom petals builder
• bow - Black dotted scallop ribbon

Small Bunny:

• face - second largest smooth heart Framelit
• cheeks - 1 3/8" circle punch
• tongue - Itty Bitty punch pack circle
• nose - 3/4" circle
• eyes - 1/2" circle
• ears - Blossom punch (Occasions mini) & Blossom Petals Builder
• bow - 1/4" pink grosgrain ribbon
  

I did also use a black marker to add the whiskers and dots plus a Signo white gel pen for the eyes.  Sponges for the cheeks and nose plus dimensionals under the cheeks and nose too.

Here's how you make the baskets:

This is a die-cut using the Clear Scallop Square die.  I scored it 1" from all sides and then cut up to the 1" line to create tabs for the box.

Here is what the box looks like without the bunny on it.  I added a handle from a strip of punched Pretty in Pink card stock using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.  Love this punch!

Small bunny close-up.

Here is how I made the basket for the larger bunny.  I started with a 7 1/4" square of Pretty in Pink card stock.  I scored it 1 3/4" from all edges and cut up to that scoreline to create the tabs.  In hindsight I might change the box size to 7 1/4" X 6" to create a rectangle box instead of a square. You could easily jazz up the edges of this basket with border punches or ribbon.

Large bunny close-up.  His face measures 4" across at his widest.

For the handle on this box I cut a narrow strip of Pink card stock and adhered a length of our 1/2" Pretty in Pink Scallop Dots ribbon to it.  The Lace Ribbon Border punch would also be fabulous for the handle. 

They're cute stacked too!  Of course this doesn't work if you want to fill the baskets, but you could just add the small bunny face above the larger one with just one basket on the bottom. 

Thanks for stopping in for today's Punch Art.

 

Sprinkled Expressions

We made this card at a recent workshop.  I saw this card made by Wendy Knowles on the website for demonstrators called Stampin' Connection. I changed very little from her original since I loved the soft colors and the layout. 

Lately I the white on white effect is a favorite of mine.  Notice how the layers of white add dimension but not busyness? The only other color besides Whisper White is Blushing Bride.  That pleated ribbon is highlighted wonderfully on this soft white card.

Sprinkled Expressions is one Free option during Sale a Bration.  Get it free with a $50 order. 

*****Sale-a-Bration ends on Saturday!!! 

• Stamps - Sprinkled Expressions, Up in The Air hostess set
• Ink - Blushing Bride
• Card stock - Whisper White, Blushing Bride
• Accessories - Blushing Bride pleated ribbon, pearls, Itty Bitty punch pack, mini glue dots, dimensionals, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Big Shot

Tri-Shutter Card directions

I promised you directions to make this fun Tri-Shutter card. 

So here they are!  I hope you try making one. It really is easier than it looks.

Enjoy and I'd love to see your version if you'd care to send me a photo.

Tri-Shutter Card Tutorial

Join Me and my Flowerbug's Team

Sale a Bration ends in about a week.  Have you considered joining Stampin' Up!  

Why should you join now?

• You'll get a free pack of Designer Series paper or a Free Digital Download each month for the rest of the year?  That's a $100 value added on to the already tremendous value of the current Starter Kit.
• The Starter kit is on discount just through March 31st for just $125.  (Product and business merchandise valued at over $350).
  
• You have until the end of June to place an order to stay active as a demo.
  
• Your first order over $150 is 30% off!
  
• You can go to Convention with me!
  

Click here to read more about my favorite reasons to join Stampin' Up!

Priscilla, Rhonda, Heather & Christina have recently joined my team.  Woo hoo!!  I am happy to have you and know you'll love being a part of Stampin' Up! and the Flowerbugs. 

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If you are tempted to join, please consider it seriously.  I have never heard of anyone that regretted joining.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made!  I had no idea my life would change this much just from becoming a demo.  But it did and so much for the better too.  Honestly I think the two best things that have happend to me as a demonstrator are these:

1. Making so many wonderful friends.
2. Earning money at what I love to do.  

 Go here to check out all the details on joining Stampin' Up!

Punch Art Easter Eggs & Chicks

For this week's Punch Art I decided to make a quick Easter card.

I used our Extra Large Oval punch to punch out three patterned eggs from the Sweet Shoppe designer series paper.  Then I used a paper snips to cut them in half like a cracked egg.  You can first draw a pattern on another punched egg to copy the cuts.

Next I punched out three So Saffron chicks from the Bird Builder punch and trimmed off the tails.  I adhered these behind the bottom egg and added dimensionals under each one. I also added dimensionals under the top half of the eggs too.  I used a Peach Parfait marker to add an orange beak to each chick and colored the pearls on the eyes with a black permanent marker. 

I used Bashful Blue ink and the 1 3/4" scallop circle punch to sponge clouds onto the 4" X 5 1/4" Whisper White card stock.

To get the wavy grass I used the SU cutter kit and cutting mat on two strips of Lucky Limeade card stock.  After cutting the curves I sponged Lucky Limeade ink to highlight the edges.  Adhere these to the bottom of your sponged White card stock.

Ink the Easter greeting (Delightful Dozen) in Lucky Limeade ink and stamp onto a strip of White card stock.   Trim to a flag shape and sponge with Wisteria Wonder ink.  Adhere with dimensionals. 

Thanks for stopping in today! 

Spring in with the Freaks Tour

Welcome to the Control Freaks 'Spring into Spring' blog hop.

You may have just arrived from my friend Barb Mullikin's blog. Keep clicking at the end of each post to see everyone's Springtime ideas.

My first one is an Easter card I designed for this month's Card Clubs. 

 

I used an old favorite stamp set called 'Fifth Avenue Floral'.  After stamping the flower and stem with Black Stazon ink I used a sponge dauber to add either So Saffron or Wisteria Wonder ink to the flower.  Then to get the flower stamens white again I colored them in with a white gel pen. 

Can you see the texture on the background layer?  I used our new Diagonal Scoring plate. The happy easter stamp is from the Delightful Dozen stamp set.  We also turned this card into either a sympathy or get well card by changing the greeting. 

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Next up is the other card we made at my March Card Clubs - a Tri-Shutter card using the Sale a Bration Everyday Enchantment designer series paper, brads & ribbon plus the Sprinkled Expressions stamp set.  I love these colors together, don't you? 

They could choose between these two versions at Club. This card looks intimidating but it turned out quite easy to make. 

Later this week I will be posting the complete, downloadable tutorial for this fun card, including step by step directions, dimensions and photos. 

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Next up is a sweet little Easter treat:

It's a little basket to hold a chocolate covered Peep all nestled in Sweetart jelly beans. 

First I have to tell you about these candies.  If you already like peeps, you'll love this version. Dipping a peep in chocolate is genius.  And if you haven't tried these jelly beans you really should - they are the perfect balance of sweet and sour. 

Okay; I'll stop talking about the candy and get to the project.....  I used our Matchbox die to create an small open box (not the lid part of this die) and wrapped it with a strip of our Lace Border punch - all in Pretty in Pink.  Then I added a strip of Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch for the handle.  Easiest basket ever!  It's the perfect addition to your Easter Basket goodies. 

 Now you're off to see what the creative Jan Tink has to share with you. 

March Technique Class

It's time to share my March Technique cards with you. 

This is the Sponged Silhouette's technique.  Beautiful color with a pop of Black.  Note the diagonal scoring in the corners - done with our new Diagonal Scoring plate. 

Next is the Paper Piecing outside the Lines. Add a great cutting effect without the detailed work. 

And this is Shimmer Overlay. It's difficult to see the shimmer in the photo here but you'll learn how to use our Champagne Shimmer paint to add sparkly highlights to your stamped images. 

The local class is on Monday, March 26th at 6:30 pm and Tuesday, March 27th at either 3 pm or 5:30 pm.  Cost is $10 per-paid. RSVP by March 23rd.

If you cannot attend the class here in Minot, ND you can still make these cards by using my online Technique Class tutorial.  It's just $4.  You get complete directions, measurements and photos of the finished cards.  Plus you also get the technique card templates to add a sample of your stamped technique to.  These are perfect if you want to create your own technique samples to use at any time. Demonstrators are welcome to use any of my ideas for your own classes.  It's all ready for you!

Click here to get it

I also have a new bundle of Technique Classes ready.  12 months of classes for the price of 10.  That's just $40 for 36 techniques.  This bundle includes the last 12 classes I've done from October 2010 thru February 2012.  (They are not consecutive as I have skipped some months during the last year or so.)

Click here to purchase the 2010-2012 Technique Class Bundle

 

Tea Light Flower

I have to share what my downline Kari shared last Saturday at our Team Meeting.  She is making them for an upcoming wedding for her step-daughter.

It's a tea light flower!  She made it with many, many punched pieces from the Ornament punch! 
She figured out how to insert the tea light in the center of it so it just glows.  She plans to use these as part of the centerpieces on the reception tables.

It's about 7-8" across in size.  Here is what she used:

• 1st row - 14 ornaments attached to the 2 3/8" Scallop circle punch.  Then work your way up to the top as follows:
• 2nd row - 9 ormaments
• 3rd row - 5 ornaments
  
• 4th row - 3 ornaments

Tips: 

• Curl the side of each ornement you sponged on with a bone folder.
• 2nd through 4th row, fold the ornament flap up towards you and glue on the bottom of the flap. 

***Here is a link to a video that is very similar to the way Kari made hers.  

Thanks so much for sharing this at our Team Meeting on Saturday Kari.  I just love it!